Ball bearing



Mar. 3; -'1925. 1,528,525

J; BosNYAKovlTs BALL BEARING v 4 l'ilewlday l1. 1921 ESheetS-Sheet 1 jaw WWENTOR Bv lua mfom?? 'Mu'. 3. 1925. "l',528,'525 y J. BOSNYAKOVITS BALL BEARING FLedMay 11, 1921- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 c4 C alz/,f-.F/

Patented Mar- 3, 192,5..

UNITED ,STATES JosgazPH BosNYAnovlfrs, or Mannesmann, New annsny.

BALL BEARING.

\ Application led `May 11,

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JosnrI-I BosNYAiiovrrs, a citizen of the vUnited States, residing at Maple Shade, in the county of Burlington, State ofNew Jersey, have invented a new and useful Ball Bearing, of which ,the following is a specification. My invention Vconsists ,of a novel 4construction of a ballbearing, comprising concentric grooved rings, the sides oii ,said grooves being solid, continuous, uninterrupted `and vintegral 4,throughout their circumference,` and the parts being` so proportioned and designed that `the load balls may be admitted to the grooves or 4races by displacing `the rings yrelatively or eccentrically to each other, after which the rings vare positioned concentrically and the spacing `devices inserted, each of the ball races in the juxtaposed rings preferably being struck from different .radii centers, so that a `tour-point bearing .is produced, which is especially adapted for use as a thrust bearing, `rand capable of resistingthe thrust .inleithier vd- .rection lt further consists in connection with a ball bearing `having the Icharacteristics above recited, of novel means `for enabling the entire lball race to be filled withballs, at the same time preserving-the .feature of the kmetallically, unbroken, k.grooved pathway for rthe outer ball race of the inner ring kand the inner ball race of the juxtaposed outer ring, without necessitatingthc employment of the lateraLrecesses'in one or both ot the rings for the insertion of the ,additional load-ballsin excess ofthe number `which can be .insertedby the eccentric displacement of lthe ringss o .that ithebear- V ing is rendered more dnrableand yeffective and particularly adapted'or high .speeds and heavy loads. Y i p ,It further consists .of agnovel'construc-c tion .of Ya ball bearing, wherein ,the ,load balls are arranged in a-,pluralitytotgroups and interposed between-said groups are additional balls having the dual unctiongof load balls and spacerirballs, 'the latter,.hav ing parallel .fipnostly "lcatedlfaceer-,n @Q11- juncCDI twith the.; inner and puteirings, each having Vthe continuous', unbroken, `int e`,'g'1`*'.al ,sroovesktherein' etfarthsneasataintarball beetles hav" v1,921. Serial No. 463,607.

` ing the novel characteristics above ,de-

scribed, of la novel ,construction of ball distributing or spacing devices, wherein means are provided forv vretaining the groups oi load zballs andspacer balls in `their proper relative position, said groups being spaced apart by the additional balls having the duel function of spacingballs and loadballs, f

,whereby I amr enabled to completely fill the ball' race of fthe bearing rings having the continuous, unbroken, integral grooves therein. j

It further consists of a novel construction of ball distributing devices havingfconcave seats Iand Hats thereon, adapted for coaction with groups ofload balls and theflats of the intermediate spacer balls which have the duel function of spacing balls and loadballs.

It Jfurther 4consists wof novel construction of four-point gbearing, formed of rings having continuous, unbroken, integral grooves constituting ball races, said 1ball races being completely filled with lload balls, the customary vnumber of said .load balls being-first,insertedby the eccentric displace- Ament oi' the rings, and the remaining annular spacebetween said races being filled bythe spacer balls, havingthe parallel flattened sides, whereby I am enabled to yproduce a -bearing having its entire ball race filled with `load balls, and whose rings are not laterally recessed at any point.

It. further consists of a novel `full race `annular bearing, wherein thevfilling opening is.: eliminated, andthe bearinghas a continuous race and uninterrupted grooves, whereby all of the troubles due Ito interference between balls and -lilling opening edges, are done away with, said bearing being assembled .fby ypositioning the inner ,race eccenilling the load balls trieally tothe outer, intothe crescentishaped space between, the

races .then being centered, .the load` balls .then V distributed or assembled in groups, the additional spacer ballsinserted, and the cageand-itsadjuncts, beinglastly placed in position to ,maintain theA proper distribution, .forming a unitary device preventing ballsfrom rubbing against each other.` It further' consists of other ,novel life'atu'res ofconstrnction, all as [will abe' hereinafter tion, I have shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since they will give in practice satistactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities oit which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as vherein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a ball bearing embodying my invention.

Figure 2 represents a plan view of Figure 1 with the outer closing ring removed.

Figure 3 represents a sectional view showing the inner and outer rings and the ball distributing` devices in section, the load balls being shown in elevation.

Figure 4 represents a plan view of 'the outer ring or closure which is employed in conjunction with the cage or ball distributing devices.

Figure 5 represents a section ou line 5 5 Figure 4.

Figure G represents a plan view ot the ball distributor employed, in detached position.

Figure 7 represents a section on line 7 7 Figure 6. v

Figure S represents on an enlarged scale a section on line 8 8 Figure 3.

Figure 9 represents on an enlarged scale a section on line 9 9 Figure 3.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates my novel construction of ball bearing, the same comprising the inner ring 2, having in the outer periphery thereof, the ball race 3, which is in the form of a continuous unbroken groove, whose sides overhangl the load balls-4. )is will be understood from Figures S and 9, the groove or ball race 3 ofthe inner ring, is preferably7 of ditferent arcs or curvatures. struck 'trom didierent radii centers as indicated al' 5 and 6, so that two contact points for the load balls 4 are formed on the groove 3. as indicated at 7 and 8 in Figure 8.

9 designates the outer ring, which is provided with the inner continuous and uninterrupted ball race or groove 10, which like the race 3 is preferably struck from different radii, so that two arcs or curvatures 11 and 12 are formed whereby two contact points are formed for. the load balls as indicated at 1 8 and 14 in Figure S.

It will be seen from the 'foregoing and particularly from the enlarged views in Figures 8 and 9, that by my invention a tour point bearing is formed, which enables my novel bearing to be especially adapted for use without alteration as a thrust bearing, wherein the thrust may be exerted in either direction, the bearing be'ingequally adapt-ed messa-5 for ordinary use and being obviously eilicient under heavy loads and high speeds. In the construction seen in Figures 2 and 8, I have shown the load balls 4 as arranged in three groups et three each and interposed between each group. I place the three balls 15, which have parallel iiats 16, these balls 15 having the dual function of spacer balls and load balls, and enabling me to completely lill the continuous and uninterrupted ball races 3 and 10 with load balls, which is a very desirable feature in this class of bearings as it renders the bearing more eifective and durable as will be apparent to those skilled in this art. These spacer balls 15 are readily .inserted by turning them so that their flats 16 will enter the annular space between the rings when they are centered or concentric as seen in Figure 2, after which said balls 15 are turned so that they appear as seen in Fig. S, the spherical portions of said balls 15 travelling on the contiguous grooves while their parallel flats are retained in proper position at all times by the distributing devices 17 and 24 to be referred to. In order to properly space apart or distribute thc load balls, I employ the ball distributing or spacing device or cage 17. seen detached 'from the bearing in Figures G and 7, the same comprising the flat ring 18, having the concavities or partly spherical seats 19 therein arranged in groups of three, as will be understood trom Figure 6, so as to accommodate the three groups of load balls 4, while the three flats 20 contact with and retain the contiguous flattened faces 1 6 of the balls 15 in position, when the parts are assembled.

21 designates short spacing bars for the load balls which project at an angle from the ring 18 and have the terminals 22, which engage the holes in the outer ring 24, whose inner surface is provided with the three groups of concave seats 25, and thc three interposed tlats 2G. which are spaced to align with the corresponding surfaces 19 and 2O of the cage 17, when the parts are assembled.

In the assembling of the bearing, the load balls 4 or groups of said load balls are assembled by first eccentrically displacing the inner and outer rings 2 and 9, so as to form a crescent shaped space of sufiicient area to permit the introduction ot a limited number of load balls 4, nine of such balls being shown in the present instance. It will be understood that the number oit load balls which may be .inserted by eccentric displacement in a bearing, wherein the grooves or ball races are continuous or unbroken, may be increased or diminished according to requirements or the dimensions of the rings, which are determined the load rating or duty, the bearing is designed for, said number of load balls capable o inserballs #Lyin groups :of three each and l tionbyleccentric displacementbeing one halt the total vnumber of balls =that Iwould lill the races plus one. Aftergthe load'ballsl: which are nine in the .present instanceare inserted, the l:ball .races'or-.ringsare then ycentered or restored Vto concentric position, and collocated or positioned, in three .groups of three each, as seen in lilignres"2l .and .3. The balls 15 having the parallel flats are then .inserted and ,turned about yor placed 'iin .position, as seen Lin :Figures 2 and 3, the parallel flattened .faces 16 :enabling said balls i15=fto be readily inserted between ythe juxtaposed concentric edges .oli-the rings, `wlientliey are centered Aor in the ,position seen ,in Figure 2. rEhe `flats of said balls after their insertion being Jturned so ras :to appear `as seen in Figures 2,3and 8, the cage 17 is thenlplaced in position as seen in .Figure 2,'=the nine load balls #t seating in the nine concavities 19, while the flats 2O of the cage contactwith the contiguous lats 16 of the balls '15, as will bey zunderstood ifrom Figure -8. The outer ring or fclosure 24 .is next placed 'in position with thelconcaveseats 25, aligning with thelcon-cave seats 19, and the 'flats 26 then:contactwith-the.contiguous lats 16 of theballs 15, andithe pointsQQ align with and engagethe holes 23, so that the completed bearingnowappears as-,seenrin Figure 1.-

vIt will be :seen fromrthe foregoing fthat each of the :rings-2 and 9, hasfa :groove or rball race whose :sides continuously over- -hangsthe load-iballs to a slightxtent, `said `:rings and ithe sides ,of `said grooves being continuous :and integral, throughout tthefentire length of the rings. rVhen theelements composing lmy novel device are assembled and iin their normali-operative position, the load balls.` can not escape, since :there Axis at all times fpresent a{cont-introns, metallic, .un` broken, grooved pathway for the load balls, which in conjunction -with the `spacing dcvices,;hold1the two rings at'all timesinconcentric assembled condition `against axial displacement, so that all *the parts zare properly held Itogether I and :form a .unitary device.

The construction of my .novel bearing obviates the-disadvantages of the employment of `only Ythespecific number of 1"load balls, which can beinserted inethe crescent. space between the rings, when the latter-.arc eceentrically displaced `from rtheir `normal position, -rvhich .as before `stated is one-half the total r number of ballsy that would lill the races plusfone, since infmyiinvention, Iam enabled to=completely-tillthe ball racesby 'the additional balls 15 ,whichhz ve therdua'l :function ot lload balls and spacing balls.'

It will be `u'i'idt-nfstood by xthose I.skilled in the vart, that while I haveislown nine .load

spacer' 1balls 15, i as beingemployeh precise number ofiload balls andspacer balls may be atari-ed, according to requirements, r-.f-hlich .would be determined bythe duty .to which :the bea-ring is to ,be put. rfhe Ispacer balls 15 after .being assembled as seen in Figures 2, 3, and VS lserve the `function ot additional load balls, lsince they are so positioned that Vtheir spherical portions contact with the .contiguous surfaces ot' the inner and outer .grooves or vball races 3 and A10, as will be understood from FigurexS and consequently :the same operative spherical surface ofeaclroif said .spacer kballs isr at all times 'functioning to the same extent, as is the case .with the load balls il, as will be understood :from Figures 8 and 9.

I am therefore enabled by my `,invention to produce a ball race bearing having its ball races entirely'lled with load balls .and at -the same time I eliminate-'the necessity of any lateral iilling openings, itgbeingapparent that the continuity'of the sidesof the grooves or ball race, -insures the regular running .ofthe load balls and consequent durability of the bearing, which also enables the bearing vtosupport a greater' load than .would be lthe case if there wasfthe`interruption of a lateral recess for lthe insertion of l.balls yinthe sides otoneor :both oit the rings.

p1 am aware of the British patent to v%entry,-l\lo. 29,925 of 1897, which discloses the featurev of -the insertion of antifriction devices between continuous ball' races ota pair of rings which may l.be displaced eccentrically, and I am also aware ofthe German patent No. 419,071, which discloses the `feature of a continuousuninterrupted groove or ,ball race in both ,the inner and outer rings .of a ball bearing, and l therefore make no claimto these features per-se, my claims being directed particularly tothe novel concrete unitary structure deiined therein.

It will Abe apparent from FiguresS and 9, that my invention is adaptednot only tor use las ian ordinary radial or annular bearing, wherein the ldirection of the load is at right angles or .radial to .the axis ofthe shaft,.butalso vasia thrust bearing., wherein the load -is parallel vto ythe axisiot the shaft or actingfat an angleitibeing apparent that :whenrny -novel device is used as thrust bearing, thedirection o't the load'maj.' be resisted in either direction, which it maybe applied as parallel with or at Aan angle `to the axis oi?A the shaft, it being, apparent `from Figures San'd), that-rnv device is readily adapted for angular loads, since I have made` effective provision 'or bothradial and thrust components.

lt is of coursexdesirable in my invention,

that all the loadballs 41 as well asithe spacer balls 11,5 should be closelymlilre identicalin size, since it is evident that a load ball larger than its fellows must receive more than its share of the load, and therefore transmit a correspondingly greater pressure to the race resulting in excessive and unsafe loading for both elements, while on the other hand, an under sized ball will be under loaded or not loaded at all, since its fellows having to take its share of the burden must correspondinglyfv carry more than their proportion.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction of a. ball bearing, which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have. in the present instance, shown and described preferred embodiments thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it lis to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing` any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A bearing comprising` two concentric rings, each ring` having` a groove, both sides of which overhang the balls and are continuous, unbroken and integral throughout their circumference, load balls between said rings, the number of balls. being` such that they can be inserted in the space between the rings, when the latter are displaced from normal position, additional spacer balls having flattened parallel sides inserted between `groups of said load balls. and distributing devices havingconcavities and flats therein adapted to contact with the spherical and flattened surfaces of said load balls and spacer balls respectively.

2. A bearing` comprising two concentric rings, each ring havinga groove. both sides of which overhang` the balls and are continuous, unbroken and integra-l throughout their circumference, load balls between said rings. the number of balls. being` such that they can be inserted in the space between the rings when the latter are displaced from their normal position. additional spacer balls having flattened parallel sides inserted between groups of said load balls. and Ydistributing devices havingconcavities and `[iats therein adapted to contact with the spherical and flattened surfaces of the load balls and spacer balls respectively, said distributing` devices having spacing bars common thereto and interposed between said balls.

3. bearing comprising` two concentric rings, each ring having a groove. both sides of which overhang the balls and com tinuous, integral and unbroken throughout their circumference, load balls between said rings, the number of balls being such that they can be inserted between said rings, when the latter are displaced from their normal position, additional spacer balls having parallel flattened sides and adapted to be inserted between the concentric annular surfaces of said rings, when they are centered, a distributing cage having flats and groups of concave seats adapted to contact with the spherical surfaces and flats of said load balls and spacer balls, spacing bars carried by said cage and projecting at an angle therefrom, and an outer closure ring having holes therein engaging the terminals of said spacing` bars and the inner surface of said outer ring having concave seats and flats adapted to align with the concave seats and flats of said distributing cage.

4. A bearing comprising two concentric rings, each ring having a groove, both sides of which overhang said balls and are continuous, integral and uninterrupted throughout their circumference, load balls between said rings, the number of balls being such that they can be inserted betweenl the rings, when the latter are displaced from their normal position, additional spacer balls. having parallel, flattened sides and adapted to be inserted between the concentric, annular surfaces of said rings when they are centered, a distributing cage having flats and groups of concave seats adapted to contact with the spherical surfaces and flat-s of said load balls and spacer balls, spacing bars carried by said cage and projecting at an angle therefrom, and an outer closure ring having holes therein engaging the terminals of the spacing bars and the inner surface of said outer ring having concave seats and flats adapted to align with the concave seats and flats of said distributing cage, the grooves in said rings being struck from different radii whereby a four-point bearing is formed which is adapted for use as an annular bearing or thrust bearing.

5. The method of manufacturing and assembling a ball bearing into a unitary structure. the parts of which hold each other together, which consists in forming inner and outer rings having opposing grooves. the sides of which are uninterrupted. integral and unbroken throughout their cir cumference and which are separated b v a distance less than the diameter of the load balls when the rings are concentric, placingl said rings eccentrically to each other to form al crescent-shaped space between their edges at one side of a width greater than the diameter of said load balls. introducing through said space a limited number ef llO load balls, extending when in Contact With each other only partly around the race Way formed by said grooves, next centering` said rings and restoring them to concentric posit-ion, next arranging said load balls in groups, next introducing between seid groups spacer balls having their opposite sides parallel and flattened, next turning said spacer balls so that the spherical portions tliereof Contact with said grom'es, and 10 neXt introducing a spacing device, whereby a full race bearing is provide JOSEPH BOSNYAKOVTS. Titnesses FRED A. BARTON, ELISE DANECURE. 

